The 10 Things House Cleaners Typically Won’t Do
1. Pest-Infested Areas
Why it’s excluded: Active infestations (bed bugs, rodents, roaches) pose serious health and safety risks to the cleaning staff.
The solution: Hire a licensed pest control service to treat the home first. Once the home is cleared, schedule your deep clean.
2. Deep Carpet Cleaning
Why it’s excluded: Standard vacuums only remove surface dirt and hair. Deep cleaning requires industrial-grade hot water extractors and specialized training.
The solution: Book a professional carpet cleaning service every 6 to 12 months to lift deep-set stains and allergens.
3. Major Mold Remediation
Why it’s excluded: While a cleaner might wipe down a small mildew spot with vinegar, mold patches larger than 10 square feet require EPA-approved containment and HEPA filtration.
The solution: If you have black mold in your grout, walls, or ceiling, call a certified mold remediation specialist.
4. Chimneys and Air Ducts
Why it’s excluded: Cleaning these requires specialized tools, heavy machinery, and specific industry certifications.
The solution: Schedule a certified chimney sweep annually, and hire an HVAC professional for duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years.
5. Deep-Cleaning Inside Ovens or Refrigerators
Why it’s excluded: While cleaners will wipe the outside of your appliances, deep degreasing of an oven or scrubbing the interior of a fridge is highly time-consuming and usually falls outside a standard hourly rate.
The solution: Request this as a paid add-on service when booking, or tackle it yourself using a baking soda and vinegar paste.
6. High Ceilings, Fans, and Light Fixtures
Why it’s excluded: Climbing tall ladders presents a major liability and insurance risk for cleaning companies.
The solution: Ask if your cleaner offers "high-dusting" as an add-on using specialized equipment, or invest in an extendable duster to do it yourself.
7. Delicate, Antique, or Valuable Items
Why it’s excluded: Cleaners are not trained conservators. Dusting fine art, antique furniture, heirlooms, or musical instruments carries a high risk of accidental damage.
The solution: Dust and care for your most precious items yourself, or hire a specialty restoration expert.
8. Laundry, Ironing, and Deep Organizing
Why it’s excluded: These tasks fall under "home management" rather than standard cleaning, and they take up a massive amount of time.
The solution: If you need these services, look for a premium housekeeping service that offers them for an additional fee, and clarify the scope upfront.
9. Pet Waste and Litter Boxes
Why it’s excluded: Handling biological waste is a biohazard risk, even if your pet is perfectly healthy.
The solution: Scoop the yard and clean the litter boxes before the cleaning team arrives, or hire a dedicated pet care service.
10. Exterior or High Interior Windows
Why it’s excluded: Achieving streak-free results on large panes requires squeegees, specific techniques, and sometimes dangerous ladder work.
The solution: Hire a professional window washer as a seasonal upgrade to your home maintenance routine.
How to Set Your Cleaner Up for Success
To maximize the time your cleaner spends in your home, a little preparation goes a long way:
Declutter first: Cleaners clean around messes, not through them. Pick up clothes, toys, and mail so they can actually reach the surfaces.
Secure your pets: Keep animals in a separate room or a crate to keep them safe and prevent them from distracting the staff.
Clear the floors: Pick up items off the floor so the cleaner can easily move lightweight furniture to vacuum and mop underneath.
Leave a note: Write down any special requests or priority areas (e.g., "Please focus extra attention on the guest bathroom") and leave it on the kitchen counter.
Communicate exclusions: Don’t assume they will tackle the grimy oven or the dusty ceiling fan. If you want it done, ask if it can be added to the scope of work.
The Bottom Line: Communication is Key
A great relationship with your house cleaner starts with transparency. Most professionals are more than happy to discuss exactly what is included in their base rate, and many offer add-ons for deeper tasks (like appliance cleaning or interior windows) for a small extra fee.
By understanding their boundaries and limitations, you’ll avoid frustration, ensure your home gets the specialized care it truly needs, and respect the safety protocols of the people working in your space. When expectations are clear, everyone wins!
